The point of Ramadan is to strengthen ones religion...

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format_quote Originally Posted by BeTheChange

Asalamualykum,

Ramadan commences 10/11 days earlier, than the previous year, depending on the moon sighting.

So i would imagine each country has it's fair share of long and short hours of fasting.

It doesn't matter if our fellow Muslim in Australia, for example, is fasting less than us.

What matter's is our sincerity and also we should grab this opportunity with both hands and see it as a pleasure to sacrifice something so small for everything that Allah swt has blessed us with. At least, when we open our fast we are able to eat food. Imagine the millions who are starving!

Also, each person has different strengths and weaknesses. Some find it hard abstaining from food, others find it easy etc. You could make the same argument why is individual A blessed with little or no hunger pangs and individual B, is thinking about food all the time.

We are all given different strengths and weaknesses - Allah swt holds this wisdom behind this, let's not complain and moan but embrace this opportunity.

Alhamdulilah for being alive and the opportunity to be able to fast.

Good answer.
I was mostly wondering about how the extremes can be to different positions on this pale blue dot.
At times, it is not a challenge and at other times it is torture.
Just wondering about it.
How differently it challenges people, even though it has the same purpose and some challenge to people at different places.

format_quote Originally Posted by Snow

... is it not fair that it differs so much, how hard the fast is?
Northern-Finland/Iceland have to fast for around 20 hours (this time) while others can go a few hours without darkness.
Is that fair?

Scandinavia is not a good place for Muslims to live, that's Odin and the Hammer gods turf. Hel dwells up there too...very nasty.
Just travel. Travellers don't need to fast. Fasting is very good for the body and may even stop cancer from developing. And when it is cold the days seem so long anyway and you are always needing to eat to stay warm, so the people fasting in winter probably suffer more than those doing it in summer. I suppose those living in very hot climates must keep drinking water or they would soon perish.